Newcomer of the Week: Gloryofthe80s

To rediscover something you truly love is a feeling one couldn't properly explain even if they have all the right words. Just like our Newcomer of the Week, Andy, or commonly known as gloryofthe80s in the Lomographic Community, who has once again found and loved analogue photography.

Come and get to know more about this Lomographer as we interview him as our Newcomer of the Week!

Name: Andy HughesLomography username:http://www.lomography.com/homes/gloryofthe80sLocation: EnglandCurrent film cameras: Currently, I have a Diana F+, Black Fisheye One, La Sardina Czar, Polaroid 600 and a Polaroid 636. But I also want to get my paws on a Holga, Smena 8M, ActionSampler Flash and maybe a Chakra Edition Colorsplash… Out of my current cameras I think my favourite is probably the La Sardina.

How did you find out about the Community and who/what convinced you to join?

I found out about Lomography through my friend, Abby, who worked in the same office as me for a while. We got talking one day and discovered that we had a mutual love of photography. I don’t remember exactly how it came up in conversation, but she said something like “Hey, have you seen these cameras? I want one of these so bad!” and proceeded to show me the microsite for the Diana cameras. I looked at some of the example galleries and I was just in awe. I thought the photos were some the best images I’d ever seen; the colours, the slight graininess, the dreamy soft focus. The images had this slight ‘madness’ to them, I mean that in a good way – I’m diagnosed as bipolar, so maybe it appealed to the slightly crazy part of me. I also absolutely loved the look of the camera, it was just so amazingly kitsch and fun, it had this giant, over-sized flash… It was retro and effortlessly brilliant!

Before I ended up joining Lomography I had only really used digital cameras, at least for the last few years. Of course I had used film cameras when I was a child, but that was a long time ago. Like most of the rest of the world, I thought that film was a dead format. I didn’t even know it still existed. Once I learned that the format was alive and becoming the Lazarus of the hobby I was thrilled. I thought “What the hell?” I dived in and I’ve not regretted any of it. It’s great, I love that you can’t just delete a photo if you think it’s crappy; it’s teaching me some skills that I didn’t necessarily have to know using digital cameras and Photoshop, it’s a process that is always new and fresh. Each new camera or lens or format (35mm, 120, Polaroid etc.) teaches you something you didn’t know before; that’s a good thing. I know I am no Annie Leibovitz or David LaChappelle, but it’s something that I really enjoy – everyone should have something that they really enjoy, even if it’s only a part time hobby. I also love the fact that this hobby came with a society of people from all over the world who share and communicate their ideas and knowledge, their tips and tricks – you don’t have to do it alone.

In summary, the reason I was won over is because it’s something that teaches, it’s something that lets you meet other people, allows you to inspire and be inspired – and it lets everyone share in a great art-form that could have easily been lost.

Is there anyone in the Lomographic Society you look up to? If yes, who is him/her and why?

Everyone on the site; they’re all doing their own thing and that’s brilliant! It sounds really sycophantic, but I genuinely think that everyone on the site can be an inspiration. There are so many times when I’ve flicked through pictures on member’s homepages and thought to myself “How in the hell did they manage to take that shot?”, I see those images and think “WOW! I wish I could do that…” and then I go and try: envy can be a good motivator when it’s used in a positive way! Off the top of my head, I think mentions should go to members: hanibale, joederville, weidong, mont0417, 134340, laslo16, alicemay, dearjme and ehmahh. Is that too many? There’s too many to choose from and I feel bad that I have missed loads of amazing photographers off that list, but I have seen some really great images from those guys recently.

Another person to mention who isn’t a member of Lomography, but is a big inspiration for me is my friend, Andie Lowings. She’s been taking Lomo-style images from around the UK using the Instagram app on her phone and putting them up on Tumblr; the images she produces are incredible. She has a really great eye for photography and she’s also a fantastic artist! I need to persuade her to buy a camera from the store so that she can join in too – although she’d kick my ass in any sort of comparison!

As you have read the 10 Golden Rules of Lomography, what rule do you apply in your everyday life?

If we’re talking photography then I’d probably give the answer: no rules, or, at very least, no strict adherence to the rules. Rule Number 10, ‘Don’t Worry About The Rules’. I think the best rule of all for photography would be “Go with it”. If you see something that catches your eye and is appealing, then shoot it. Don’t worry about messing it up, trust your instinct. Something doesn’t have to be perfect to be interesting and beautiful.

In this digital age, why still film?

Short answer: there’s room for both. I love working with digital cameras in order to achieve something I feel I might not be able to do with film, but equally I love working with film. Film brings something to the table that isn’t necessarily polished and perfect. It adds a little ‘soul’ back in to the medium. With film you can create images that are very intriguing and unique, despite not always being technically proficient.

Share your current favourite Lomograph (could be yours or a friend’s) and explain why it is your favourite.

Newbie, rookie, neophyte or whatever you call them, our new breed of the ever-growing band of Lomographers are set to conquer the analogue land with their brand new hip-shooting abilities! And this is where we feature them along with their wistful thoughts and the freshest snaps each week!

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